We all meet at 12 Hung Vuong street: Café Bi Sắt for the last time as the property has unfortunately been sold by the owner. Some Hashers think today’s trail will be Minh Dam; however, with news regarding recent “bushfire incident” there, we were lucky the Hares change to Big Mountain as shown in NEXT RUN box on our website.Then we took Hash Mobiles to Hem 491 Tran Phu where we dropped off a few Hash runs ago. We walked to the left and getting near to the pagoda gate for a Chalk-Talk. While pagoda fill with chanting, Hares start the chalk-talk!Then it was “on-on” to the small gate through a small alley and up the stairs to the mountain, while village kids and adults practised their English with Hashers, also controlling their dogs barking at Hashers.We came up to the pagoda on the mountain, and then hiked to another pagoda next to it and walked up the familiar trail set by Rowdy Water two years ago.Straight up the mountain, we come across the cement road but we just pass through it to go across the top of Big Mountain until we finally see the infamous 600 steps.After we walk down the steps and come through the pagoda, we walked back around Tran Phu to our new (and former) home, SB4 (now changed its name to Hon Ru Ri) where the ice cold San Miguels are waiting.After the team photo and some vodka(!), Ring Master SamSon starts the Circle and once again called two “Young Men” Flying Finn and Faulty Brakes, and UXO was nominated to rate the trail.While UXO wanted to give 10 for the good trail, Hashers wished to give 9, but deducted 2 because UXO lost his key, so 7/10 this week!We welcome the Virgins but they are nowhere to be found, so we moved to Returnee UFO. With no excuse to give, he gladly wearing the tube.And Sinners Mister Kim for inappropriate shoes and UXO for losing his key.Sudden announcement that UXO is leaving the Hash for a while and will be back soon. With such unexpected news and nothing prepared, we sing the song for him “We see you again…”The next announcement was to inform the Hashers that we will move back to SB4 now called Hon Ru Ri, because Café Bi Sắt will close, so next week everyone meet at our old gathering place – see photos of the new Hon Ru Ri signage on our home page.Next week’s run, Minh Dam, and first volunteer Hare is SamSon. So please check the website NEXT RUN box later in the week for more information.It was also proposed to hold a special event on the weekend 26/27 March – with Hares Faulty Brakes and Flying Finn saying they’ve found a place called Cocobeach where you can hike a trail and camp overnight in tents, or upgrade to cabins (at own cost). More details when known, but the trail will be on the Saturday for those who want to join the fun – with a local (Vung Tau) trail on the Sunday. Maybe keep the whole weekend clear in your diary!In the meantime, please remember that we’re back to SB4 (Hon Ru Ri) from next Sunday – meeting as usual at 2 pm for 2.30 pm start!On On!

We all met at our usual gathering spot, 12 Hung Vuong street: Café Bi Sắt. And many Hashers remembered SamSon mentioning last week to ‘bring your friends and family on this week’s trail to enjoy a fantastic view’.We all boarded the bus, including little Oopso, and after the last of 37 Hashers arrived we started our journey to Dinh mountain. Hare SamSon explained to everyone that it’s almost a year since we visited this part of the mountain.When half way up the mountain road, we noticed the pagoda was visited by lots of people for the start of new lunar calendar. Our driver mistakenly thought that Hashers were also here for the pagoda and pulled over to park; however, we quickly corrected him and continued on up to the trail.As soon as the bus stopped near the dirt road, we walked to the familiar coffee shop near the lake and SamSon gave his chalk-talk and then “On On” we go!We walked to the forest and up the hill to the cement road. From here we had two options: go down and reach the coffee shop or continue going up – so that’s where we went: up!After a while, we turned left into thicker forest and followed the red marker tape while avoiding yellow (“Wrong way – go back!”). We came across the bamboo forest and just like the Hares mentioned in the NEXT RUN box on our website, there were lots of thorny trees and we were grateful that the Hares cleared some of them before we started.And up the mountain we continued until we reached the top of a massive rock, with a “Million Dollar” view! After a while, we continued along the mountain with more rocks on top, with many Hashers taking more pictures along the way before we headed down the mountain.We finally came out of the forest and back to the cement road, then we walked down the path to the coffee shop and continued on to the bus where the ice-cold San Miguel beer was waiting. It was nearly sunset already!We took a group photo and started the Circle while also avoiding tree-cutters on motorcycles. Duty Ring Master SamSon invited the Hares into the Circle and Radio Wave volunteered to rate the trail. He said it was a “Million Dollar” view and the trail had lots of challenges and, to show his “Mark of Honour”, he awarded 10/10: another perfect score for the hardworking and creative Hares!We welcomed Hash Virgin Nick, a colleague of Rajah’s in Singapore but from Germany; SamSon’s friend, a receptionist at the Imperial Hotel; and Hasher Dumb's wife Lumia and son Antonia.Welcome back returnees, with excuses from Rajah: “Tet Holiday”, Microwave: “Homework”, Ms Lien: “Work”, and Mr T: “Went back to Australia”.And Sinners, Basil for New Haircut and Faulty Brakes for New Shoes, then Kim for inappropriate footwear.Ms Chuyen has joined the Hash more than six times so the Hashers nicknamed her “Tommy” because she is wearing a Tommy T-shirt.Last but not least, we thanked Foodies Mother Teresa and Blackhawk for providing more delicious “Hash snacks”.An announcement was made to the Circle that we plan to have a Charity run for Children’s Day in June. More information will be available closer to the date.In the meantime, we'll meet again on Sunday at PétanqueCafé Bi Sắt, 12 Hung Vuong Street: 2 pm for 2.30 pm start.On On!​

Today is Valentine’s Day and we all have “special thanks” for our Hash Ladies, and even though Tet is still on, it didn’t stop 17 Hashers joining for today’s new trail.Hares Flying Finn and Faulty Brakes arranged “Hashmobiles” to get to Hem 491 Tran Phu. One managed to mistakenly go to Hem 291, but still returned before the Chalk Talk.After the group photo at the temple gate, we climbed the stairs, then stared at the mountain. It seemed a big challenge but in fact, it was a smooth walk down and up again to pass through the village.Visitor OverDrive from Saigon Hash was able to take a lot of pictures with friendly village kids who practised their English, and a newborn puppy that Little Hashers loved to see through the fence. OverDrive was a Hash Flash in Saigon Hash and these pictures he had taken were worth the "Million Dollars" mentioned in the Vung Tau Hash website "Positions Vacant" ad.After that, we came to our familiar old trail, and headed back down the mountain to Hem 291 Tran Phu. Hash Flash Cousin was waiting and called the “Hashmobiles” to take us back to 12 Hung Vuong, Café Bi Sắt.When we reached the café, we finally grabbed the cold San Miguel beers that our sponsor gave us before Tet, to quench our thirst.After the group picture, SamSon donned the chain of honour and Basil prepared the “special thanks” for the Hash Ladies.But before it was presented, SamSon invited the “young Hares”, Flying Finn and Faulty Brakes to the Circle. Mother Teresa wanted to rate the trail, so she stepped into the Circle with her interpreter Super Teen.Today’s trail is mostly new, and she liked to go through the friendly village, so she decided to give 10/10.Hash Virgins, Abyna, daughter of Anatoly, Kim and OverDrive from Denmark and also from Saigon Hash express themselves that this is the best family friendly Hash they’ve ever seen.And Ronald Reagan was the Sinner for not using a “Hashmobile” but ran back to Café Bi Sắt!Visitor OverDrive from Saigon Hash said he came to “spy” on Vung Tau Hash, so veteran Faulty Brakes decided OverDrive should wear the tube.Now to the main event, Vung Tau Hash know Sunday is Valentine’s Day and we prepared Roses for every lovely Hash Ladies to thank them for being here.Last but not least, we Hash Tag Ms Lien for joining the Hash more than six times; with idea from Russia, her Hash Tag shall be “Chupa Chups” a sweet lollipop company, but called Chupa. "Here's to Chupa, she's true blue...".Before ending the Circle, Ringmaster announced next week’s trail shall be on Dinh Mountain and first volunteer Hare is SamSon, so please watch the website NEXT RUN box for more details.We'll meet again on Sunday at PétanqueCafé Bi Sắt, 12 Hung Vuong Street: 2 pm for 2.30 pm start.On On!​

Some 25 Hashers met, as usual, at 12 Hung Vuong street: Café Bi Sắt, on a fine day for Hashing - cool and cloudy!​Deputy Hash Cash Cousin did well to round-up some taxi's to convey the pack to 491 Tran Phu, where we alighted and crossed the busy road for a walk up the Hem and a chalk talk by the Hares. Then it was "On On" through and/or past several pagodas (and many pagoda steps!) to eventually reach Ho May Park on top of Big Mountain.​Unfortunately for us, the park was closed for the Tết holiday - but the security guards kindly allowed us to leave this one time, "but no more"!​The pack headed downhill, but several groups decided to add some "spice" to the descent by following the "waterfall" trail instead of Vi Ba - but there was no waterfall, of course, because the rainy season ended a long time ago!​We all eventually made it back to Café Bi Sắt and the eskies full of ice-cold drinks. Guest Ring Master Uncle called Hares Faulty Brakes and Flying Finn into the Circle and invited Mary to rate the trail, with Fot Tret translating. Long Wave invited himself into the Circle and between the two of them we had a score of 9/10, with half a point having been deducted because Mary didn't approve of the smell(!) of the orange paint used to mark some rocks for the trail! Uncle then invited Kojak into the Circle as leader of the "breakaway pack" that followed the waterfall trail on the descent instead of Vi Ba, and that resulted in a score of 9.5/10 - making an average total of 9.25/10!Only one Hash Virgin today: Mr Duy was welcomed by the Circle; then returnees Ms Linh, Fot Tret, Dumb, Dinh, Long Wave and Radio Wave gave excuses ranging from "out of the country" to "changing job", which all earned the perpetrators a Down Down, suitably "diluted" with a dowsing from Oggy!​Sinners began with Bác sĩ House saying there were no Sinners! Then the two "breakaway" packs who used the waterfall trail on the descent from Big Mountain meant there were more sinners than non-sinners, so everyone was invited for a "group Down Down" anyway!​Uncle then wished everyone Chúc mừng năm mới! (thanks to Radio Wave for the prompt!), and explained that next week's trail would be another local one, because bus hire during Tết is unreliable at best. So we'll meet again on Sunday after Tết at PétanqueCafé Bi Sắt, 12 Hung Vuong Street: 2 pm for 2.30 pm start.On On!​